Congressional Democrats Working to Defend Promise of Our Democracy

Two years ago tomorrow, the United States Supreme Court dealt blow to a vital provision in the Voting Rights Act (VRA) in Shelby County v. Holder.  Ahead of the second anniversary of the Supreme Court striking down Section 4 of the Voting Rights Act, Congressional Democrats are taking the lead and have introduced progressive legislation that protects Americans from being denied their right to vote:

• MSNBC –  A new bid to strengthen the Voting Rights Act

The new measure is in many ways stronger than the bipartisan legislation offered last year with the same goal…

In the two years since then, numerous states and local jurisdictions have moved ahead with potentially discriminatory changes to their voting laws.  Texas' strict voter ID law, which had been blocked by a federal court under Section 5, and North Carolina's sweeping and restrictive voting law have been among the highest profile.  But on the local level, several cities and counties also have made changes that set back minorities, for instance by changing how districts are drawn, or by moving elections to a date when minorities typically are less likely to vote.

• Washington Post – Congressional Democrats to introduce new Voting Rights Act fix

The bill is the latest in what has been an ongoing effort to restore the preclearence provision of the Voting Rights Act, which required many southern states to have any change to voting laws cleared by federal officials.

• The Nation –  Congressional Democrats Introduce Ambitious New Bill to Restore the Voting Rights Act

The Voting Rights Advancement Act of 2015 would compel states with a well-documented history of recent voting discrimination to clear future voting changes with the federal government, require federal approval for voter ID laws, and outlaw new efforts to suppress the growing minority vote.

While Republicans continue to do nothing, we will continue to ensure every American has the right to be heard at the ballot box.  As Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi said today:

…We cannot wait.  With the Voting Rights Advancement Act of 2015, we will reassert the rights of all Americans and reaffirm the full promise of our democracy. 

We must, once and for all, stop the despicable attempts to stand between citizens and the ballot box.  With a renewed, revised and strengthened Voting Rights Act, we will ensure that every citizen, everywhere has the right to vote and that every vote is counted as cast.  By giving more people a reason to register, a reason to vote, we can strengthen our democracy for future generations.